Disposable film developing sleeve

ABSTRACT

A daylight loading film developing sleeve is composed of a flexible, opaque, plastic tubing which is inserted within itself and includes means for retaining the film, inserting and dumping developing fluid chemicals and providing proper agitation and contact between the chemicals and film.

United States Patent George P. Kelley 1102 E. 6th, okmulgee, Okla. 74447 748,119

June 24, 1968 Sept. 7, 1971 Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented DISPOSABLE FILM DEVELOPING SLEEVE 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 95/90, 95/905, 95/93 Int. Cl 603d 1/02 Field of Search 95/89, 90, 90.5, 93

References Cited UNTTED STATES PATENTS 1 1913 Wallace 95/9015 1,136,703 4/1915 Neshime..... 95/905 2,804,003 8/1957 Hoffman 95/90.5 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,1 l8,668 3/1956 France 95/905 Primary ExaminerJohn M. Horan Assistant Examiner-Alan Mathews Attorney-Head & Johnson ABSTRACT: A daylight loading film developing sleeve is composed of a flexible, opaque, plastic tubing which is inserted within itself and includes means for retaining the film, inserting and dumping developing fluid chemicals and providing proper agitation and contact between the chemicals and film.

PATENTEU SEP 7 l9?! SHEET 1 OF 2 FIG FIG. 2

INVENTOR GEORGE P. KELLEY FIG. 3

ATTORNEYS PATENTEDSEP 1 an SHEET 2 UF 2 FIG. 5

INVENTOR.

GEORGE P. KELLEY fi fl/umw DISPOSABLE FILM DEVELOPING SLEEVE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the film developing art for particular use in developing films, black and white and/or color without use of special darkroom areas. So-called daylight loading developing tanks" have been heretofore perfected of the type shown in US. Pat. No. 2,538,268 which requires spiral winding the film within a spiral trackgroove which is sealed from light. An opening provides means for introducing developing process chemicals without light leakage. These instruments, however, are cumbersome to use and in some instances are difficult to thread the film within the tank. Some tubular types of developing tubes such as shown in US. Pat. Nos. 1,051,789; 2,730,027; 1,285,462 and 3,280,7l8 have been prepared heretofore but have not been deemed sufficient for use in multiprocess film developing and do not necessarily have complete control over light leakage, proper temperature control and ease of use in the daylight and provide controlled agitation of the chemicals in a film.

SUMMARY This invention has for its object to provide improvements over prior film developing apparatus for use in daylight which comprises an opaque, flexible polyethylene or the like type plastic tubing which has been inserted within itself to form a substantially endless tubing. Means are providedfor the insertion of chemicals within the tubing within which are retained therein while rotating the flexible tubing in one direction. Rotation of the tubing in the opposite direction will dump the fluid chemicals. In addition, means is provided for filtering the chemicals in the developing process to maintain filtered particles from the film and further provide means for easily adapting the various developing chemicals by rupturable package contained within the selfdeveloping container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. I, the apparatus of this invention is best described as comprising tubular, preferably opaque polyethylene tubing 10 which includes an open end portion I2 and an inner end portion 14 which has been inserted within portion I2. The inserted end 14 is preferably tapered as shown for ease in assembly, and provides a form of liquid flow check allowing liquid flow in substantially one direction. In operation and use, in its simplest form, the apparatus is best described relative to film to be developed, such as 35 mm. which is encased within a cartridge or casette 16. In use, the cartridge with a small amount of leader therefrom is inserted into the opening 12 and squeeze-rolled along until it reaches a point 18 as shown by the dotted line with leader 20 extending rearwardly thereof. The leader is retained, as by a staple 22. To insure against a light leakage around the holes made by the staple, tapes 24 and 26 are inserted vover the staple 22 on each side of the tubing. It is to be understood that there is still sufficient fluid passageway on either side of the staple through the tubing for developing chemicals to flow in the process. Thereafter, the cartridge 16 is squeeze-rolled around the tubing until it reaches position 30 as shown in solid lines. In this position, the apparatus is ready for development and processing. Chemicals, in liquid form or dry, may be inserted into the opening 12. If the latter, opening 12 is placed under a common water faucet to provide'a sufficient amount of'liquid or other means may be used to supply the proper measured amounts. The type of chemicals and solutions will, of course, depend upon the film being developed. For each process, the loop of material as shown in FIG. 1, is held vertically with the chemical solutions therein. By rotating the loop in a clockwise direction, the solution, normally maintaining itself at the bottom of the tubing, remains in a relatively fixed position while continued rotation of the tubing will cause the film strip 20 to pass therethrough performing the process as for example developing, stop bath, and fixing. Once the particular process is satisfactorily completed, the tubing loop is then rotated in a counterclockwise direction and upon doing so, will dump all the liquids outwardly through the opening 12 into the sink or drain. The subsequent developing processes are performed in the same manner until the film is properly developed, after which time, end 14 is withdrawn from its inserted position, removing the staple 22 and withdrawing the cartridge 16 and film 20 therefrom. There are other modes of film removal. For example, the tubing and film may be cut near the ends and the film removed. Thereafter the tubing is usually destroyed.

FIG. 2 is descriptive of an alternate form of this invention for those types of films where it is necessary to expose the film to light yet further involves liquid developing processes. In this embodiment an outer opaque tubing 40 includes an inner separate transparent plastic tubing 42. As such, when it is necessary during the developing process that the film be exposed to the light, the outer tubing 40 is removed.

In FIG. 3 an additional embodiment is shown capable of use in this invention wherein opaque tubing 50 includes a tapered end portion 52 similar to end portion I4 shown in FIG. I. In this embodiment, however, a prepackage filtering material 54, such as cotton waste, is inserted at the end of the tubing to col- Iect particles and sediment removed from the film during the developing processes. In addition thereto sealed prepackaged containers identified by the numerals If 2," and 3 of identifying shapes and made of rupturable material, are packaged within the tubing at a convenient location. That is, in the use and operation when it is desired to use a developer which would be in a circular package identified as numeral l the operator would flex the tubing 50 so as to rupture that container and spill the contents therefrom. By the introduction of water into the openings such as at 12 in FIG. 1, the chemicals are united therewith and the process continues as heretofore described. Likewise a stop bath chemical may be in the triangular shaped rupturable housing and a fixer may be in the square rupturable housing identified as 3.

Another embodiment of the invention is depicted in FIG. 4 utilizing the developing tubing 10 as described in FIG. I or as modified by the other views. In this embodiment an electric operated motor 60 is adapted to rest on a table top 62, for example, the output shaft of which is connected to a drum 64. The drum including a plurality of outward radial members 66 is interconnected by a plurality of transverse rod members 68 which are spaced slightly above the outer periphery of drum 64. The electric motor 60 includes a three-positioned switch, off, on, and reverse 70 and a variable speed resistor 72. The flexible developing apparatus of this invention is placed upon' the transverse rod 68 and because of a slight wedging action with the radial arm 66 intersects with the transverse rods, a frictional engagement is made so as to be sufficient to rotate the developing tube 10. In one embodiment indentions or tread 74 may be formed as a part of the inner side of tubing 10 as a type of gearlike arrangement to cause positive rotation of the looped tubing. Upon filling the tube through the opening 12 as for example from a faucet 72, the chemicals will form an enlarged area 76 in the bottom thereof. Upon rotation in a clockwise direction, the chemicals will retain their relative position within the tube for the proper agitation and washing of the film in its various processing steps. Upon rotation in a counterclockwise direction the liquid within the tube ultimately will pass outwardly through the opening 12 into a basin or drain therebelow. In one embodiment the electrical switch and connection to motor 60 may be controllably programmed to rotate, at given speed and/or time in one direction and vice versa in accordance with the processes taught herein and in accordance with the developing sequences necessary for a particular film.

It is well known that in the development of some film that the critical processes involve control of temperature, agitation, and the time of development during the various processes. It is believed that this invention has the capabilities of providing improved control over these variables yet is available to use by amateur and professional alike. In one modification of use, the lower end of the developing tube may be positioned within a controlled temperature bath. Such is the case with the development of certain types of color films. The tubing found useful in this invention is the polyolefin type and particularly polyethylene tubing of 4 mm. wall thickness is preferred. The tubing may be rolled from a flat sheet with the seam connected as by a tape which may be removed to remove the film after development. Hence it can be appreciated that this invention in accordance with the claims and its relationship to the prior art is capable of providing an expendable film developing tube wherein the disagreeableness of handling harmful chemical contaminants is greatly eliminated in addition to the weight reduction ordinarily found with other daylight developing apparatus. Further, the developing apparatus may be folded and made apart of the overall film sale package. That is, the developing process equipment may be incorporated as a part of the film sale.

One modification of use involves developing two rolls of film simultaneously. That is, by positioning two cartridges 16 whereby the emulsion sides of the film are outward.

What is claimed:

1. Apparatus to daylight develop film comprising:

a substantially endless loop of opaque, flexible tubing having means to receive and retain said film therein without premature exposure to light;

means to introduce and drain developing liquids respectively into and out of said tubing without premature exposure of film to light, said latter means oriented whereby rotation of said tubing loop in one direction will maintain said developing liquid in said tubing for processing relative to said film while rotation in the other direction will drain said liquid from said tubing; and

means to filter said developing liquids positioned interiorly of said tubing across the flow path of said liquids.

2. Apparatus to daylight develop film comprising:

a substantially endless loop of opaque, flexible tubing having means to receive and retain said film therein without premature exposure to light;

means to introduce and drain developing liquids respectively into and out of said tubing without premature exposure of film to light, said latter means oriented whereby rotation of said tubing loop in one direction will maintain said developing liquid in said tubing for processing relative to said film while rotation in the other direction will drain said liquid from said tubing; and

a second transparent flexible tubing within said opaque tubing.

3. Apparatus to daylight develop cartridged film comprising a substantially endless loop of opaque, flexible tubing having one end inside the other end for a substantial distance, the said other end adapted to receive said cartridge and film for insertion therein beyond said one end, and said other end adapted to permit developing liquids to be injected into said loop and wherein rotation of said loop in one direction will maintain said developing liquid in said tubing for processing relative to said film while rotation in the other direction will drain said liquid from said other end of said tubing.

4. Apparatus of claim 3 wherein said tubing is pol eth lene. 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein sai tu ing is formed of a flat sheet rolled together to form a longitudinal seam, and a removable tape covering said seam.

6. Apparatus of claim 3 including means to filter said developing liquids positioned interiorly of said tubing across the flow path of said liquids.

7. Apparatus of claim 3 including a rupturable developing chemical container within said tubing.

8. Apparatus of claim 3 including a second transparent, flexible tubing within said opaque tubing.

9. Apparatus of claim 3 including motor operated means to rotate said loop in either of said directions. 

1. Apparatus to daylight develop film comprising: a substantially endless loop of opaque, flexible tubing having means to receive and retain said film therein without premature exposure to light; means to introduce and drain developing liquids respectively into and out of said tubing without premature exposure of film to light, said latter means oriented whereby rotation of said tubing loop in one direction will maintain said developing liquid in said tubing for processing relative to said film while rotation in the other direction will drain said liquid from said tubing; and means to filter said developing liquids positioned interiorly of said tubing across the flow path of said liquids.
 2. Apparatus to daylight develop film comprising: a substantially endless loop of opaque, flexible tubing having means to receive and retain said film therein wiThout premature exposure to light; means to introduce and drain developing liquids respectively into and out of said tubing without premature exposure of film to light, said latter means oriented whereby rotation of said tubing loop in one direction will maintain said developing liquid in said tubing for processing relative to said film while rotation in the other direction will drain said liquid from said tubing; and a second transparent flexible tubing within said opaque tubing.
 3. Apparatus to daylight develop cartridged film comprising a substantially endless loop of opaque, flexible tubing having one end inside the other end for a substantial distance, the said other end adapted to receive said cartridge and film for insertion therein beyond said one end, and said other end adapted to permit developing liquids to be injected into said loop and wherein rotation of said loop in one direction will maintain said developing liquid in said tubing for processing relative to said film while rotation in the other direction will drain said liquid from said other end of said tubing.
 4. Apparatus of claim 3 wherein said tubing is polyethylene.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said tubing is formed of a flat sheet rolled together to form a longitudinal seam, and a removable tape covering said seam.
 6. Apparatus of claim 3 including means to filter said developing liquids positioned interiorly of said tubing across the flow path of said liquids.
 7. Apparatus of claim 3 including a rupturable developing chemical container within said tubing.
 8. Apparatus of claim 3 including a second transparent, flexible tubing within said opaque tubing.
 9. Apparatus of claim 3 including motor operated means to rotate said loop in either of said directions. 